Marry Me Chicken Soup (Printable Version)

Tender chicken and sun-dried tomatoes simmer in creamy broth with ditalini pasta for a hearty meal.

# What You'll Need:

→ Chicken

01 - 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (1 lb)
02 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
03 - 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
04 - 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

→ Vegetables & Aromatics

05 - 1 medium yellow onion, diced
06 - 3 garlic cloves, minced
07 - 2 medium carrots, peeled and diced
08 - 2 celery stalks, diced
09 - 1/3 cup sun-dried tomatoes in oil, drained and chopped

→ Broth & Dairy

10 - 4 cups low-sodium chicken broth
11 - 1 cup water
12 - 1/2 cup heavy cream
13 - 1/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese

→ Pasta

14 - 3/4 cup ditalini pasta

→ Herbs & Seasonings

15 - 1 teaspoon dried oregano
16 - 1 teaspoon dried thyme
17 - 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
18 - 1 bay leaf
19 - Fresh basil, for garnish

# Directions:

01 - Season chicken breasts with salt and pepper. Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Sear chicken for 3 to 4 minutes on each side until golden but not fully cooked. Remove and set aside.
02 - Add diced onion, carrots, and celery to the pot. Sauté for 4 to 5 minutes until softened. Stir in minced garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
03 - Mix in sun-dried tomatoes, dried oregano, dried thyme, and red pepper flakes if using. Stir well to combine.
04 - Pour in chicken broth and water. Add bay leaf and return chicken breasts to the pot. Bring to a gentle boil, then reduce heat and simmer uncovered for 15 to 20 minutes until chicken is cooked and vegetables are tender.
05 - Remove chicken breasts from the pot and shred using two forks. Return shredded chicken to the pot.
06 - Stir in ditalini pasta and cook for 8 to 10 minutes until al dente.
07 - Lower heat to a gentle simmer. Remove the bay leaf. Stir in heavy cream and grated Parmesan until melted and fully incorporated.
08 - Adjust seasoning to taste. Ladle into bowls and garnish with fresh basil.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • It tastes like restaurant comfort food but comes together faster than you'd think, making weeknight cooking feel less frantic.
  • The combination of sun-dried tomatoes and cream is genuinely one of those combinations that makes people wonder what you did differently.
  • Soup means one pot, minimal cleanup, and the kind of meal that makes your kitchen smell like somewhere people want to be.
02 -
  • Don't skip searing the chicken first; that golden color creates deep flavor that simmering alone never achieves.
  • Heavy cream gets added at the end over low heat specifically because high heat can cause it to break or separate, leaving your soup with an unpleasant texture.
  • Taste the soup before you finish; the saltiness of Parmesan varies, and low-sodium broth means you're in control of the final flavor.
03 -
  • Keep your broth simmering gently, not boiling hard, so the cream stays silky and the pasta doesn't turn mushy.
  • Dice your vegetables roughly the same size so they cook evenly and the texture stays consistent throughout the soup.
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